Li Songshan, the second assistant to the cabinet, framed Zhongliang, formed a clique for personal gain, and maliciously concocted a royal scandal...
Thirty-six major sins were listed by the censors.
He was impeached by both civil and military officials of the Manchu Dynasty, and was despised by the people of the world.
Before the imperial edict to confiscate the family's property had reached the Li Mansion, Li Songshan, who had been a pavilion elder for twelve years, had hanged himself.
Only one letter was left, asking the Governor to present it to His Majesty.
When the emperor read it, he vomited three liters of blood and could not even get sick.
Heavenly prison.
Overcrowded.
Not only were the miscellaneous prison area and severe punishment area overcrowded, but many ministers who were supposed to be in Zhao Prison were also packed in.
It’s really... I can’t even live in Zhao Prison.
Li Songshan joined the officialdom at the age of sixteen and served as an official for forty years. He held all important positions from the ninth rank to the first rank. He was truly full of talents and promoted countless officials.
Once he falls, how many people will be involved?
Don't talk about such a big shot in the court.
Even Zhang Wu, a young jailer, has worked in Tianlao for more than four years. He has made many roundabout friends from all walks of life, from gangsters to fourth- and fifth-grade officials, as long as he does not leave the capital.
Even he has this kind of connections, but if he replaces the elder who controls the affairs of the government and has a thousand-year-old family, how terrible will the connections be?
For a time, the jailers were under great pressure.
The Ministry of Punishment and the Department of Justice have to interrogate a large number of prisoners every day. There are only twenty jailers on duty in the prison during the day, and the manpower is completely insufficient.
Many prisoners were dishonest and had to be punished. Even Zhang Wu was so busy that he didn't even have time to sleep.
Fortunately, Han Jiang issued a message and recalled all the jailers who were on free wages. No matter who your backers were, those who did not return to prison were all dismissed, so the pressure on everyone was reduced.
Of course, a lot of officials are in jail and busy, but it is also an opportunity to make a fortune.
Zhang Wu estimates that this month's payment will be divided into four to five hundred taels at least!
For a family of four, twenty taels of silver is enough to feed a whole year, and four to five hundred taels is an astronomical figure.
"Li Songshan, this bad official, took bribes and violated the law. He should be punished for his crimes!"
"Yes, the crime is unpardonable. Your Majesty, please open your eyes. He and I are incompatible with each other!"
"The entire Yingchuan County, from top to bottom, is a vassal of the Li family. A word from the Li family is more effective than an imperial edict. Your Majesty, you have learned from this."
The most indispensable thing in prison is people who can adapt to the changing circumstances.
The generals are better and have more or less backbone.
These civil servants started clamoring and adding fuel to the fire from the first moment they entered prison, and they sprayed Li Songshan to pieces.
I was really short of words, so I gave up on him and started to count the crimes of the branches of the Li family, wishing to expose all the faults of the eighteen generations of my ancestors.
At noon, Zhang Wu arrived at the severe punishment area carrying a rice bucket and food box.
Ninety percent of the officials were imprisoned for the first time and did not understand the rules in prison. They could not let go of their high-ranking arrogance in a short period of time and bossed around the jailers.
"Then, subordinate, I'm starving to death, why did you bring me food?"
"How outrageous. As a fourth-grade official, you didn't serve me the food first?"
"When I go out, I will make sure you look good."
Zhang Wu turned around and followed the sound, and saw that it was Prison No. 67. The guy who had just scolded Li Songshan the most cruelly, he fearfully walked forward with a bucket and said:
"Sir, I really don't mean to neglect you. Please eat this white rice quickly."
"Um?"
The prefect was stunned and looked around.
Some people eat yellow millet, some eat unpalatable chaff, and some eat swill.
Almost all the officials in the cell were staring at him, which made him feel frightened for a moment, and he quickly asked without knowing why:
"Although I am a fifth-rank officer, there are many adults here who are of a higher rank than me. Why do you give me free rice?"
"Your family members came to the prison for treatment."
Zhang Wu pretended to be quiet, but actually spoke loudly.
"I see."
The magistrate's face was full of joy, but he was also very hungry. He didn't even use chopsticks and just grabbed and ate.
The officials were very clever and were eating in silence, preparing to send messages to their families.
There are also those who don't open their eyes, and even resort to the rules and regulations of the court, scolding the little jailer for being lawless and amassing money in public.
Zhang Wu remembered their faces one by one.
Li Songshan fell. With Liu Qing's scheming skills, how could these people have any room to make a comeback?
Even if the case involved was minor and he could be released, he would never have the chance to become an official again.
"Sir, please eat slowly and don't choke."
Zhang Wu brought out a bowl of fragrant seaweed and egg drop soup from the food box, which greatly delighted the prefect.
When people around me saw him, they either scolded him more fiercely or kept their mouths shut more tightly.
"You, a little jailer, know how to handle things. When I leave, I will definitely promote you."
"Thank you, sir. I'm a little blind, but I don't know what your name is?"
Zhang Wu clasped his fists and asked.
This magistrate is soft-spoken and short-handed when dealing with others, so he is also polite.
"I am Dai Kou!"
"I wonder, sir, you and Li Ge always...?"
Before Dai Kou could answer, an official next to him said:
"He was a Jinshi in the 39th year of Longqing. After studying hard for fifteen years, he finally embarked on an official career. Unfortunately, his family had no background and his official career was difficult. He gave his fourteen-year-old sister to a dandy disciple of the Li family, and went to work with Li Li in Yingchuan County.
Shi, this is when he started to rise rapidly."
"It's normal. In the initial stage of becoming an official, it is understandable to use low-level means that are not worthy of publicity."
Zhang Wu nodded in agreement, took out another plate of food from the food box, and showed reverence to Dai Kou.
The official in the prison next to him continued:
"After that, this guy became Mr. Li Ge's disciple. He was the magistrate in three years and made snowflakes in ten years. In these years, he made a fortune of five hundred thousand taels. The people's livelihood in Dachuan Prefecture under his rule was in decline. The exorbitant taxes and miscellaneous taxes were outrageous. The people sold out
It is commonplace for children to sell their daughters."
"Cultivation is nonsense!"
Dai Kou was furious, his face was red and his ears were red.
Zhang Wu stood up and comforted:
"Your Excellency, Xiu is angry. Who doesn't serve the country before becoming an official? It's just that the general environment is not good, and there is nothing you can do if others force you to give you money. Accepting it reluctantly is not a sin."
"You still know how to talk."
Dai Kou laughed loudly, his appetite was whetted, he picked up the plate and wolfed it down.
"Sir, don't be anxious, there is more."
Zhang Wu smiled and brought out another plate of food and asked:
"Master Dai, since you are Mr. Li Ge's disciple and you owe all your glory and wealth to him, why did I see you just now..."
"If you frame Zhongliang, everyone will find it and kill him!"
Dai Kou said indignantly.
"Your Excellency is so righteous, I admire you!"
Zhang Wu was completely convinced and quickly took out the roast chicken from the bottom of the food box.
"And chicken?"
Dai Kou was so happy that he snatched it and ate it.
However, everyone around him changed his mind.
At this moment, three captains wearing flying fish uniforms and holding embroidered spring knives came from the end of the passage. They held the case file in their hands and asked coldly:
"Are you Dai Kou, the prefect of Dachuan?"
"It's down there."
Dai Kou was frightened.
The captain said:
"The superiors have found you not guilty and you can leave."
"real?"
Dai Kou's eyebrows were dancing with joy.
Zhang Zhang quickly opened the cell door and let the person out.
"Qiang!"
The Xiuchundao slashed through the air with a cold light, and blood splashed on the faces of the surrounding officials.